Dr. Ramesh Hariharan's medical specialty is adult cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology (heart rhythm). Dr. Hariharan (or staff) speaks the following foreign languages: French, Tamil, and Hindi. His professional affiliations include Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, and Houston Methodist. Dr. Hariharan studied medicine at Kilpauk Medical College, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), and King's College London School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Memorial Hermann, and a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He has a 4.0 out of 5 star average patient rating. Dr. Hariharan honors Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, and United Healthcare Choice, as well as other insurance carriers. New patients are welcome to contact his office for an appointment.

Dr. Gordon Martin is a physician who specializes in general surgery and vascular surgery. Dr. Martin graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He completed his residency training at Baylor University Medical Center. He takes Aetna EPO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, and more. Dr. Martin is professionally affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital.

Dr. Palur Balakrishnan works as an adult cardiologist and interventional cardiologist in Houston, TX, Nassau Bay, TX, and Pasadena, TX. Dr. Balakrishnan's areas of expertise include the following: high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), angioplasty, and stroke. He is professionally affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital, Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital, and Houston Methodist. He is an in-network provider for Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, and Amerigroup Star, as well as other insurance carriers. He is accepting new patients. Dr. Balakrishnan attended Kilpauk Medical College and Madras Medical College for medical school and subsequently trained at Metropolitan Hospital Center, New York and Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers for residency.

Dr. Vince Nguyen's medical specialty is adult cardiology and interventional cardiology. Dr. Nguyen's clinical interests include hypertension (high blood pressure), mitral valve disease, and heart attack. He is affiliated with Houston Methodist. Before completing his residency at a hospital affiliated with the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Dr. Nguyen attended medical school at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. He accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, and more. He has an open panel.

Dr. Naveed Saqib is a specialist in general surgery and vascular surgery. He works in Webster, TX, Houston, TX, and Pearland, TX. He is affiliated with Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital. He attended King Edward Medical University and then went on to complete his residency at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Dr. Saqib accepts Aetna EPO, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, as well as other insurance carriers.

Dr. Bill Chang is a physician who specializes in general surgery and vascular surgery. He is a graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. Dr. Chang trained at a hospital affiliated with the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) for his residency. Clinical interests for Dr. Chang include renal angioplasty, aortic aneurysm, and carotid endarterectomy. Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold are among the insurance carriers that Dr. Chang accepts. He is professionally affiliated with Houston Methodist. Dr. Chang is accepting new patients.

Dr. Malladi Reddy works as a cardiologist. He attended medical school at Osmania Medical College. These areas are among his clinical interests: arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), mitral valve prolapse, and high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia). Dr. Reddy is in-network for Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, in addition to other insurance carriers. He is affiliated with Houston Methodist. His practice is open to new patients.

Dr. Fayez Hadidi is a medical specialist in adult cardiology. He has a 3.5 out of 5 star average patient rating. Dr. Hadidi's areas of expertise include arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), high cholesterol (hyperlipidemia), and angioplasty. He honors Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Coventry, and Workers' Compensation, in addition to other insurance carriers. He attended medical school at the University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine. Dr. Hadidi is professionally affiliated with Houston Methodist. He is accepting new patients.

Dr. Robert Farrell is an interventional cardiology and vascular & interventional radiology specialist in Webster, TX. On average, patients gave Dr. Farrell a rating of 3.0 stars out of 5. He accepts Blue Cross Blue Shield Bronze, Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Gold, in addition to other insurance carriers. He studied medicine at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

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What is Angioplasty?

Angioplasty is a common, minimally invasive procedure performed to restore blood flow in arteries and veins that have become narrowed or blocked. Age or illness can cause plaque to build up at certain spots within the veins and arteries, and if enough collects, it can restrict the flow of blood. Angioplasty uses a tiny balloon at the end of a small, flexible tube to inflate within the narrowed section and open it up again.

Angioplasty may be performed in several different areas of the body and for a variety of reasons, most often:

Peripheral arterial disease, which reduces blood flow in the arms or legs

Atherosclerosis, or general hardening of the arteries

Carotid artery stenosis, or narrowing of the arteries in the neck that supply the brain

Coronary artery disease, or narrowing of the arteries near the heart

Renal vascular hypertension, or narrowing of the arteries in the kidney, leading to increased blood pressure

During angioplasty, a patient is given a sedative while lying on a table under an x-ray machine. A catheter (a thin, flexible, and hollow tube) is inserted into the patient’s skin in the arm or groin and guided into the blocked artery. Dye is injected via the catheter, and x-rays are used to position the tip of the catheter exactly at the blockage. The tiny balloon is guided through the catheter and inflated with saline. It pushes the plaque out of the way, squishing it against the walls of the artery. The balloon may be inflated and deflated several times to let blood pass by. A stent, a tiny tube of metal mesh like a spring, may be inserted to help keep the artery open. Then the x-ray is used again to check that blood is flowing properly, the catheter is removed, and the tiny incision is bandaged.

There are no nerves within veins and arteries, so an angioplasty is generally not painful. However, there may be some discomfort at the site of the incision and when the balloon is inflated. Overall, angioplasty is a very effective and low-risk procedure, useful for helping patients avoid more difficult bypass surgery.